Written by

Jay Powell | For The Tennessean

Corn mazes & pumpkin patches

• Honeysuckle Hill Pumpkin Farm: Honeysuckle Hill continues the tradition of crafting unique designs for its 10 acres of corn mazes. For the children’s maze, the farm joins the national fight against bullying by presenting Spookley The Pumpkin. Children will read the story of Spookley and his struggles with being an odd shape compared to his pumpkin brothers and sisters. The larger, 7-acre maze has been transformed into the face of none other than the late George Jones. “The Possum” is Honeysuckle Hill’s tribute to the country legend.

• Shuckles Corn Maze: Thirty acres of fun await, with a family-friendly corn maze and mini-maze for kids, games, a petting zoo, pumpkin patch and more. Come at night for a lights-out maze adventure by flashlight. Last entry into the maze is at 9 p.m.

Where: Across from Station Camp High School, 1040 Bison Trail, Gallatin

• Walden Pumpkin Farm: Pick out your holiday harvest items from a complete assortment of pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn. Go on a hayride, play with the farm animals or try the delicious pumpkin fudge.

• Corn Maze at Rippavilla Plantation: Similar to last year’s design, this year’s corn maze will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, focusing mainly on Tennessee’s role and major battles fought in Tennessee. The center of the maze is shaped like Tennessee.

Where: 5700 Main St., Spring Hill

When: Through Oct. 27; 3-11 p.m. Fridays,

10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays

Cost: $7 for ages 13 and older, $5 for ages 6-12, free for children 5 and younger; groups of 10 or more get $1 off each; cash or check only

• Lucky Ladd Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch: Families can wander and play clue-finding games in this pumpkin-shaped maze. The pumpkin patch also offers more than 10 varieties of pumpkins. After dark, families can see hundreds of jack-o-lanterns in the Pumpkin Hollar, take the Moonlit Wagon Ride or wander through the maze with flashlights.

Family Fun

• Franklin Pumpkinfest: Now in its 30th year, downtown Franklin’s Pumpkinfest will feature arts and crafts booths, live music throughout the historic district and a scarecrow contest, as well as the return of the Great Pumpkin, being delivered to Main Street by Franklin sister-city Carleton Place in Ontario, Canada.

After dark, tickets can be purchased for Grave Matters, a tour of the city’s two historic cemeteries on Fourth Avenue North.

Where: Throughout historic downtown Franklin

When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 26

Cost: Free; $8 for a Chili Cook-off ticket; $2 to enter the children’s costume contest; $15 for ages 14 and older and $5 for ages 7-13.

• Ghouls at Grass­mere: Put on your costume a few days early for a night of spooky fun as the Nashville Zoo puts on its annual fundraiser. Catch a show at the Monsterpiece Theatre, get lost wandering through the Monster Lab or visit one of the 20 treat stations set up on Trick-or-Treat Trail.

• Cheekwood Harvest: Visit the pumpkin patch for carving and decorations, take part in guided garden and museum tours or check out the 30-plus scarecrows hidden along the trails. Each Saturday also features a special event, from a puppet show to a tree-climbing tutorial.

Where: 1200 Forest Park Drive, Nashville

When: Through Oct. 26; 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays,

11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sundays

Cost: $12, $10 for ages 65 and older, $5 for ages 3-17 and college students with ID.

• Hauntanel at Fontanel: Featuring a scarecrow decorating contest (beginning Oct. 1), pumpkin patch, trick-or-treating, face painting, a movie, bonfire, music and more. There also will be a Haunted Hayride, benefiting Monroe Harding children’s home, featuring a 2-mile ride through the woods and trick-or-treating at the Fontanel Mansion. The event is family-friendly until 8 p.m., then takes a scarier turn for adults and older kids.

More: Fontanel also will host the Whites Creek Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 26 with local artisans and vendors, a bonfire and live music. Inflatables and a bungee trampoline will be available for an additional fee.

• Goodlettsville Pumpkin Festival: Little princesses, monsters and superheroes can celebrate Halloween by jumping in inflatables, playing games, going on a hayride and more. Children can end the night trick-or-treating at booths at the park’s trailhead by Baseball Field 1.

Where: Moss Wright Park, 745 Caldwell Drive in Goodlettsville

When: 5-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31

Cost: Free

Contact: 615-851-2231

• Haunted Museum at Tennessee State Museum: This free Halloween tradition is in its 13th year and features a “ghost trail,” where visitors are taken through the museum to learn about Tennessee’s ghostly past and win prizes.

• Fall Fest at The Hermitage: Come to the home of President Andrew Jackson for a weekend of food, live music, art and history. The annual fest will feature local artisan foods and spirits as well as programs for both children and adults on the history of The Hermitage, handmade arts and crafts, a petting zoo and more.

• Hauntings at the Hermitage: The Hermitage also will host a weekend of ghost stories and haunted hayrides through the fields and old barn. You could also wander through the newly added President Trick or Treat Trail.

Where: 4580 Rachel’s Lane, Nashville

When: Oct. 25-26; opens at 5:30 p.m. with last tickets sold at 9 p.m.

Cost: $13, $12 for ages 62 and older, $11 for students and $6 for children ages 6-12. Member tickets are $12, $11 for ages 62 and older, $5 for students and children ages 6-12.